Aaron Belen, owner of AFB Hospitality Group, hopes to expand his popular Royal Oak restaurant, The Morrie, into Birmingham’s Palladium building by the end of the year.

“We are going to bring the same menu we have in Royal Oak with a few twists and additions. We’ll do a build-your-own salad in Birmingham and we’ll add pizza,” Belen said in a recent phone interview. “The Morrie price point is what so many residents say they miss. I’m 35 and my contemporaries with two kids need practical, affordable places to eat and that is what The Morrie is.”

The Morrie offers high chairs for its youngest patrons and has a “robust bar program” for those ages 21 and older. Its “eclectic neighborhood roadhouse cuisine” ranges in price from $10 to $15 for sandwiches and $16 to $32 for entrees that include ribs, barbecued chicken, salmon, ravioli, mussels and New York strip steak. Sides, soups, salads and starters round out the menu.

The Morrie will be located at 260 N. Old Woodward, in the former Au Cohon and Arthur Avenue restaurant spaces in the Palladium building. The 7,952-square-foot restaurant will seat 214 patrons indoors, including 33 around the bar, plus 16 outdoors.

Musicians will perform an eclectic mix of music most weeknights and during brunch each weekend.

"We did a lot of searching for a good restaurant. I visited Aaron's restaurant quite a few times," Jordan Jonna, owner of the Palladium, said during a public hearing May 14 before the Birmingham City Commission. "He runs a great operation."

John Jonna, owner of Vinotecca, said "we welcome any new restaurant coming into town that will create Birmingham as a destination."

The Morrie in downtown Birmingham will have outdoor and interior seating.(Photo: Biddison Architecture + Design)

City officials approved site plans and a special land use permit for the restaurant, but said Belen would have to return to the planning board with revisions if the restaurant plans to include a small dance area.

Belen said patrons at the Royal Oak restaurant occasionally move a few tables near the bar and dance to the music and are likely do the same in Birmingham.

He said the restaurant group is "looking to move forward" and will add the dance area to site plans for planning board review.

Belen said he's investing "at least" $1 million in the Birmingham location and likely will employ 75 staff members.

A rendering shows the bar at The Morrie in Birmingham.(Photo: Biddison Architecture + Design)